Button-machine



(No Model.) 6 Sh6et S-Sheet 1. D. A. GARPBNTER.

BUTTON MACHINE.

No. 425,209. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

IIVIIE/VTOH:

WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I D. A. CARPENTER.

BUTTON MAGHINE. No. 425,209. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

IN VE N TOR 47M 0% agy (No Model.)

om t e h S m e e h S 6 H mm Em PA M M T T AU B D No. 425,209. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

6 Sheets- 81166134.

(No Model D. A. CARPENTER.

BUTTON MAGHINE. No. 425,209. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. D. A. CARPENTER.

BUTTON MAGHINE.

Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

WITNESSES THE mums Penna um, worommo wAsnma'yon, n. c

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. D. A. CARPENTER.

BUTTON MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 8 1890.

INVENTOR:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL A. CARPENTER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BUTTON-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,209, dated April 8, 1890.

' Application filed October 7, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, DANIEL A. CARPENTER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Attaching Buttons to Garments, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyiug'drawings, forming part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in machines which receive both buttons and fasteners in bulk and feed and apply them to garments; and the invention consists of a machine for attaching buttons to garments, hav ing its several parts constructed, arranged, and combined substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein described and claimed.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are front, side, and rear views, respectively; Figs. 4 and 5, side and front views illustrating the operation; Figs. 6, 7, and 8, details of the button-reservoirs. Fig. 9 is a fragment of one of the buttonchutes, showing 110w the descent of the buttons is regulated; Fig. 10, a sectional View of the anvil mechanism. Figs. 11 and 12 are face views of the table in diiferent-positions.

Similar reference-numbers indicate like parts in the several views.

The general object of this invention is to enable buttons of two sizes to be applied to garments by a single machine, self-feeding with respect to both the buttons and fasteners, and constructed to operate in such a way that buttons of either size may be applied atthe pleasure of the operator.

The invention is particularly designed to facilitate the attachment of buttons to the waistbands and fronts of overalls and trousers.

The frame-work of the machine consists of the upright part 1, provided with a suitable base, the part 2, extending downward from the front portion of the base, these parts and the Serial No. 826,298. (No model.)

shown in Figs. 1 and 10, while the section 7 between them issolid. In the upper section of the part 2 is pivoted a block 8, the pivot passing through the lower front corner of the block, and lengthwise through this block is drilled a hole, within which is a rod 9, proj ecting up through the base and containing areceding pin 10, with a depression in its upper end and a coil-spring supporting it. Through the section 7 of the part 2 passes a rod 11 of the same diameter as the rod 9. These two rods are connected by a short link 12, and a link 13 connects the rod 11 with a lever 14, pivoted to the lower end of the part 2. A coil-spring 15 tends to draw the upper end of theblock 8 inward. This block takes the inclined position in which it appears in Fig. 10 at the end of, each operation of the machine, and remains in that position until the beginning of the next operation, and the upper end of the rod 9 then rests directly below the mouth of the chute that leads from the reservoir containing the fasteners. To one side of the part 2 is attached a slide 16, and projections 17 and 18 are made on the lever 14 and the block 8, respectively.

On a pin projecting from the side of the upright part1 is mounted a bar 19, which has at its lower end a table 20 and at its upper end a slot 21, in which is received a pin fixed in the side of the lever 6. The table 20 is made in two sections, one of which 22 is rigidly attached to the bar 19, while the other 23 is connected with. the frame by a pivoted arm 24:, and constructed to slide on the section 22, the upper faces of the two sections being in the same plane and forming, when the table is in the position shown in Fig. 1, a continuous surface. The inner edges of the two sections meet directly beneath the center of the plunger, and a semicircular notch is cut in each to form a small roiind hole through the table. The lower part of the slot 21 lies on the circumference of a circle whose center is the pivot of the lever 6; but the direction of the slot changes at the-proper distance from the bottom, so that when the rear end of the lever is thrown upward the bar 19, and likewise the table, remain stationary until the lower end of the needle attached to the plunger passes below the surface of the table through the small hole just mentiouednvhere' upon the bar 19 is suddenly inclined to such an extent that the inner section of the table is drawn away from the plunger and the outer section forced forward by the ar 24, and a large opening is produced in place of the small one, the sections of the table changing their relative positions in the manner represented in Figs. 11 and 12.

The arm 3 supports the reservoirs which contain the buttons and fasteners. The buttons are ordinary one-part buttons, each havin g a round central perforation, and the fasteners are eyelets or tubular rivets, such as are commonly used with buttons of this kind.

The eyelet-reservoir 25 is mounted directly on the arm 3, and is provided with a ratchet and pawl, by means of which the eyelets may be agitated in one of the various ways commonly employed in eyeleting-machines and caused to pass from the reservoir into the chute 26. At the lower end of this chute is a spring that arrests the descent of the eyelets, and the chute is slotted, so that a narrow vertical passage is formed through the end of the chute.

The button-reservoirs 27 and 28 are attached to a supporting-plate 29, which is pivoted to the arm 3 at the back of the reservoir 25, the plate 29 turning about the ratchetwheel of the eyelet-reservoir. The buttonreservoirs are alike in construction, except with respect to the differences necessary to adapt them to buttons of different sizes and to positions on opposite sides of the machine. A cast base 30 (see Figs. 6 and 8) is rigidly secured to the plate.29, this base being pro vided with a rim 31, extending along a portion of its circumference, and with a broad channel 32,which is as wide as a button, and a narrow channel 38, about two-thirds as wide. The reservoir consists of the spun or east top 34, having a swinging cover, the band 35,with openings corresponding to the shape of the buttons around its lower edge, and the bottom 36, permanently united to the band 35. The top and the band may lit snugly together, like a pail and its cover, and the top need not be otherwise fastened.

The reservoir is placed on the base 30, the upper surface of the bottom 36 being flush with the bottom of the channels P2 and and is keyed to a shaft extending through the base 30 and the supporting-plate 29, and connected by means of a ratchet, pawl, and rod with the pawl-plate 37 at the back of the eyelet-reservoir, as shown in Fig. The channels of the base 30 may either be covered or have grooves milled in their walls to prevent the buttons from overlapping one another.

Chutes 38 and 39 convey the buttons downward from the reservoirs, the rods 40 serving as braces to steady the chutes, and these chutes and the l)llttOll-leSOlVOllS turn with the supporting-plate 29 on its axis as a single body, the one chute or the other being brought beneath the plunger according to the direction in which the system is turned.

A suitable distance from the lower end of each of the button-chutes is a device to regulate the descent of the buttons one at atime. At the outer end of an arm 41, pivoted to the chute or a projection thereon, are two pins, so located that when the inner section of the arm is moved back and forth the pins are brought alternately against the face of the chute. A coil-spring 42 tends to draw the inner section of this arm upward, and a flat spring 43 extends behind the upwardly-bent end of the arm. In each side of the lever 6 is a pin M.

Below the device just described is a bracket 45, rigidly connected with the chute. In this bracket is a hole 46, and on either side of the upright part 1 of the frame is a pin 47 and a spring-catch JCS. \Vhen one or the other of;

the chutes is brought under the plunger, the

pin it? enters the hole in the bracket 45, and the catch e8 keeps the bracket in place, so that the lower end of the chute is held firmly in the proper position, the other chute being moved aside, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The extremity of each of. the button-chutes is formed into a receiver for the buttons. The chute has an opening through it equal to the diameter of the plunger, and springs sccured to the sides of the chute are located on either side of this opening.

The plunger is provided with a sharppointed needle adapted to fit snugly in the stem of the eyelet, and at the upper end of the needlev is a die to curl or upset the eyelet.

A rod 419 extends from the lever 6 to the plate 37 at the back of the eyelet-reservoir.

The machine is mounted on a standard, and the levers 0 and ll are connected by rods with a treadle, as represented, for example, in Fig. 4.

To operate the machine, buttons and eyelets being in the reservoirs and in the chutes, and one of the buttoirchutes being in position below the plunger with a button in the receiver of the chute, the garment is placed on the table, and power is applied to the treadle. The rod 11 moves upward and pushes before it the rod or anvil 9, and the pin 10 passes through the slotted end of the chute and up into the stem of the foremost eyelet, and then the rod 11, entering theblock or guide 8, causes this to assume an erect position, throwing outward the upper end of the anvil, and the pin '10 pulls the eyelet past the spring which obstructs the mouth of the chute, andt-he eyelet is carried upward on the pin. During the part of the operation just described the plui'iger descends, the needle passing through the button and piercing the cloth, and as the plunger continues downward it passes through the end of the chute or receiver, forcing the button through with it, the springs at the sides of the opening yielding under the pressure of the plunger, and'the button falls on the cloth and is held between this and the shoulder of the plunger at the upper end of the needle. The table supports the cloth while the needle enters the small hole in. the table and penetrates the cloth to such an extent that this surrounds the thick part of the' needle, the tapering part being wholly below the cloth, and then the table is inclined downward and opens, as before explained,and the anvil carrying the eyelet passes through the table, and the needle and pin 10 are brought into contact with each other, the cloth being then held upon the needle by friction. The extreme point of the needle does not touch the pin 10, but enters the depression in the end of the pin, and is thus without danger of being broken or blunted by the contact. As the plunger and anvil approach each other the pin 10 recedes under the pressure of the needle, and this enters theeyelet, whose stem is forced over the needle and between it and the cloth and button, and afterward meets the die, which descends into the hub of the button, and so curls or upsets the eyelet that the button is clamped firmly to the cloth, the needle extending through the eyelet and downward into the anvil. The pressure is then removed from the treadle, and the anvil, plunge r, and table return to their form er positions. \Vhen the guide 8 becomes upright, the slide 16 falls, and its upper end rests closely behind the projection 18 on the guide, and there stays until it is forced above this again by the projection 17 on the lever 14, so that the anvil in. returning to its resting-place descends vertically almost to the end of its movement and passes under the eyelet-chute after the pin 10 gets below the end of the chute; for before the pin reaches such a point the slide prevents the guide 8 from tipping after the rod 11 leaves it. The lever 6, through the rod 49, and the rods, ratchets, and pawls at the rear of the reservoirs, agitates the brush within the eyelet-reservoir, and also imparts an intermitting rotary motion to each of the button-reservoirs, the direction of this motion being such that in each case the lower part of the reservoir, where the buttons collect, moves upward on theoutside of the axis. The buttons are thus carried up against the outer side of the reservoir, and some of them slide through the openings in the band 35 into the broad channel 32, while others fall back against the inner and lower sides of the reservoir, and some of the latter pass part way through the openings and project into the narrow channel 33, in which position they are moved along until they reach the broad channel, when they are discharged into this and go down the chute. The buttons projecting into the channel 33 are'carried forward by the sides of the openings, since the channel is too narrow to allow the hubs of the buttons to pass entirely through the openings. Both reservoirs rotate with each operation of the machine, no matter from which chute the buttons are taken, the distances of the ratchets and pawls of the bu tton-reservoirs from those of the eyelet-reservoir remaining constant, and the rods connecting these being permanently secured in place. WVith the upward movement of the lever 6 the fiat spring 43 is pushed above the bent end of the arm ll by the pin 44, and the coil-spring 42 causes the lower of the two pins at the outer end of the arm to bear againstthe face of the chute, the upper pin being held away from the chute, and a button't-hen slides down against the lower pin. When the lever returns, the pin 44 presses downward the inner end of the arm, and I the upper of the two pins is brought against the chute and the lower one moved away from it, so that the lowest button is released and the others are held back. The purpose of the spring 43 is to keep the inner end of the arm l1 from moving upward when the chute is thrown out from under the plunger, for otherwise a second button would be released when the chute was thrown in again.

- It will now be understood that with suspender-buttons in one of the-reservoirs and fly-buttons in the other a complete set may be applied by this machine to each of alarge number of pairs of overalls or trousers, and that each garment need be handled only once, since the operator can apply a large or a small button, or as many of either kind as he may wish, by having the proper chute thrown in when the machine is operated.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the guide 8, having a longitudinal channel therein and pivoted near its lower end to the frame, the anvil 9, adapted to slide in this guide, the fixed vertical guide 7, beneath the pivoted guide, the rod 11, adapted to slide in the vertical guide and to project from this guide to and into the channel of the pivoted guide underneath the anvil 9, an operating-lever, a fixed chute, and an upsetting-die, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the fixed chute, an upsetting-die, the pivoted guide, the anvil adapted to slide therein, and an operatinglever, arranged as set forth, of a holding device or catch on the frame, adapted to en" gage the pivoted guide when this becomes upright, and means for tripping the catch after the anvil has passed below the chute, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of a fixed chute, an upsetting-die, the pivoted guide 8, arranged to assume an inclined and also an upright position, the anvil 9, adapted to slide therein, the fixed vertical guide beneath the pivoted guide, the rod 11, adapted to slide in the vertical guide and to project from this guide to and into the pivoted guide, and a holding device to retain the pivoted guide in a vertical position after it ceases to be thus held by the rod 11, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, with an anvil, a plunger, needle, and die, of the cloth-supporting table with a hole larger than the needle and smaller than the anvilor plunger, the bar 19, connected therewith at one end, being pivoted to the frame and provided with a slot which changes abruptly from one direction to another, and the lever 6, carrying a pin which enters the slot in the bar, whereby the table is made, first, to resist the pressure of the needle and then to move quickly out of its position to afford a space in which the anvil and plunger can come together, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of an anvil and die, the clotlrsupporting table, the pivoted bar 19, connected therewith at one end and provided with a slot near its opposite end, and the lever 6, carrying a pin which enters the slot in the bar, the slot throughout a portion of its length coinciding with the circumference of a circle described about the pivot of the lever U as a center, but elsewhere departing therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose described.

(3. The combination of an eyelet-holding anvil, a needle and a die, a lever projecting in front of the frame, a table the rear portion of which is connected with the lever and consists of a plate 22, with a notch in its front edge larger than the needle and smaller than the face of the anvil, and a pin or cam adapted to act on the lever and havinga sudden backward throw with respect to the notched edge of the plate 22 at least one-half the face diameter of the anvil, whereby the plate may be quickly moved inward clear of the space traversed by the anvil or die after the needle has pierced the cloth, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination of a needle and die, an anvil adapted to move upward past a chute and force eyelets therefrom, and a cloth-supporting table made in sections placed edge to edge witha hole between them larger than the needles and smaller than the anvil, which sections are adapted to separate as the anvil moves upward until an opening is formed in the table through which the anvil can pass, and a fastening whereby the sections are firmly held close together during the passage of the needle through the cloth, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a machine for feeding and attaching but-tons having a broad face and a hub with a central opening therein, the combination of the plunger and anvil adapted to move downward and upward, respectively, a chute for the buttons leading to the plunger, a holder in which the buttons rest in a horizontal poafter the needle has pierced the cloth, and. aw

die whereby the eyelet is upset within the button, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a machine for feeding and attaching buttons having a broad face and a hub with a central perforation therein, the combination of the plunger and anvil adapted to move downward and upward, respectively, a chute for the buttons leading to the plunger, a holder in which the buttons rest in a horizontal position in the path of the plunger, the chute for eyelets or hollow rivets leading to the anvil, the needle attached to the plunger, hav ing a range of motion extending above and below the button-holder and adapted to enter the perforation in the buttons, a table located between the button-holder and the anvil and above the level at which the point of the needle and the anvil meet, with a movable plate arranged to help sustain the cloth when this is pierced by the needle, a lever whereby the plate is afterward withdrawn from the cloth, and a die whereby the eyelet is upset within the hub of the button, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a machine for feeding and attaching buttons having a broad face and a hub, the combination, with an anvil and setting-plunger, of two chutes 38 and 39, movable alternately by the hand under the guide of the plunger or out of that position, each chute having at its lower end a perforation of greater diameter than the setting-face of the plunger, and a catch or similar fastening by which the chutes are held stationary until they are again moved by the hand, whereby the plunger as it descends may be made to pass through either chute at the pleasure of the operator and push the buttons before it through the under side of the chute as through a stationary holder or receiver, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In a machine forfeeding and attaching buttons having a broad face and a hub, the combination, with an anvil and setting-plunger, of two chutes 3S and 39, each having at its lower end a separate holder or receiver with yielding sides, between which the setting-face of the plunger can pass, and each being movable by the hand and adapted to have its holder placed in turn beneath the guide of the plunger or out of that position, and a catch or similar fastening by which the chutes and holders are held stationary until they are again moved by the hand, whereby the plunger as it descends may be made to pass through either holder and push the buttons before it through the holder of eithe r chute as through a holder which is always stationary, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a machine for feeding and attaching buttons, the combination of an anvil and plunger adapted to move upward and downward, respectively, a table through which a passage is provided for the anvil, a chute for fasteners terminating underneath the table, two chutes terminating above the table and adapted to convey buttons of different sizes, movable holders for the buttons at the lower extremities of the button-chutes, with yielding sides between which the face of the plungel can pass, and a catch or like device by which the holders are fastened, each in place of the other under the guide in which the plunger travels, whereby buttons fed through either of the upper chutes and the fasteners fed through the lower chute may be applied to opposite sides of the garment on the table and the buttons attached to the garment with the fasteners, substantially as described.

13. In combination, an anvil, plunger, and die formed and arranged to hold, apply to garments, and upset fasteners, an operatinglever connected with the plunger, two reservoirs for buttons mounted on an upwardlyprojecting arm 3, secured to the frame and provided with a plate or bar extending laterally from the arm in opposite directions and serving to support the reservoirs with their bases substantially in the same inclined plane, mechanism for agitating the buttons in the reservoirs, rods or bars connecting such mechanism at the back ofeach reservoir with the operating-lever, and pivoted chutes attached to the bases of the reservoirs or the supporting-plate and adapted to be alternately fixed by hand in position to deliver the buttons to the setting mechanism, as and for the purpose described.

14:. In combination, an anvil, plunger, and die formed and arranged to hold, apply to garments, and upset fasteners, two reservoirs for buttons mounted on an upwardly-projecting arm 3, secured to the frame and provided with a supporting plate or bar to which the reservoirs are attaehed, with their bases substantially in the same inclined plane, mechanism for agitating the buttons in the reservoirs, and pivoted chutes provided with separate holders or receivers connecting with the reservoirs and arranged to be alternately placed in and out of the path of the plunger, as and for the purpose described.

15. In combination, an anvil, plunger, and die formed and arranged to hold, apply to garments, and upset fasteners, a supportingplate arranged to turn about an axis on an upwardly-projecting arm 3, reservoirs attached to the plate, one on either side of the axis, and chutes connecting with the reservoirs and adapted to turn with the reservoirs and plate as a single bodyabout the axis of the plate, substantially as described.

16. I11 combination, an anvil, plunger, and die formed and arranged to hold, apply to garments, and upset fasteners, a supportingplate arranged to turn about an axis on an upwardlyprojecting arm 3, reservoirs attached to the plate, one on either side of the axis, chutes connecting with the reservoirs and adapted to turn with the reservoirs and plate as a single body about the axis of the plate, and a fastening whereby the chutes can be securely fixed in position, substantially as described.

1 7. The combination ,With an anvil, plunger, and die arranged to hold, apply to garments, and upset fasteners, of the supporting-plate 29, pivoted to the arm 3, the reservoirs 27 and 28, each mounted on a base 30 secured to the supporting-plate, and the chutes 38 and 39, attached one to each base, these several parts turning as a single body upon the axis of the plate 29, substantially as and for the purpose described.

18. The combination, in a button-setting machine, of three reservoirs 25, 27, and 28, all provided with ratchets and pawls, two of the ratchets and pawls being connected with the pawl-carrying plate 37 of the third reservoir and that plate with an operating-lever by a single rod, whereby all the ratchets and pawls are actuated, substantially as described.

19. In combination, in a button-settingmachine, with a plunger, anvil, die, and chute, a reservoir mounted on a supporting plate or arm, which turns about an axis located on one side of the reservoir and provided with a ratchet and pawl operated from such axis, the reservoir thus being allowed to inove freely from one position to another,.'fbstantially as described.

20. The combination, in a button-setting machine, with an anvil, plunger, and die, of an inclined reservoir with openings in its sides through which buttons having hubs can pass with the hubs uppermost, the broad channel 32, whose width is at least equal to the face diameter of the buttons, and the narrow channel 33, whose width is less than one-half the face diameter plus one-half the hub diameter of the buttons, the narrow channel opening into the broad channel at the lower side of the reservoir, and both being located on the exterior of the reservoir and connecting with the openings therein, and the chute extending downward from the broad channel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

DANIEL A. CARPENTER.

In presence of- WALTER WARD, WM. A. WILLIAMS. 

